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Korean, Japanese and Chinese Acupuncture: What’s the Difference?

Korean, Japanese and Chinese Acupuncture: What’s the Difference?

Thursday, August 07, 2014

Patients seeking acupuncture might be confused when
they see advertising for different "styles" of acupuncture such as
Korean acupuncture, Japanese-style acupuncture, or traditional
Chinese acupuncture.

What is the difference? Are they all effective?

"Japanese, Korean and Chinese acupuncture all have their
foundations in traditional Chinese medicine, and all are very
effective," says Dr. Yihyun Kwon, assistant dean for
acupuncture and oriental medicine at National University of Health
Sciences. "How acupuncture evolved in different regions of Asia
reflects the culture and history of each region."

Chinese Acupuncture
The acupuncture profession looks to China as the standard
traditional model. In China, acupuncturists use big needles with a
greater depth of insertion. They are trying to stimulate what is
called the "De Qi" sensation, or "arrival of Qi" - life energy
flowing through the body. A Chinese acupuncturist will try to
enhance that sensation by gently rotating the needle. On a
microscopic level, the surface of a Chinese needle is very rough,
so patients will definitely feel the needle when is inserted. This
heightens the De Qi response.

"Current research shows that the De Qi sensation is really
important," says Dr. Kwon. "There is a better outcome after
treatment."

The Chinese also use more needles, and insert them into a wider
area of the body.

Taiwan also has a unique acupuncture system as well, called
"Tung" acupuncture. It uses a completely different system with
different points. The majority of points are closely located to
bones, joints and nerves. The Tung system provides excellent and
quick results for patients with musculoskeletal conditions.

Japanese Acupuncture
"The Japanese use thinner needles, and a gentler technique with
shallow insertion. Their diagnostic assessment relies heavily on
palpation of the abdomen, back and various pulses along the
meridian system. In fact, Japanese style acupuncture is often
called 'meridian acupuncture' for this reason," says Dr. Hyundo
Kim, chief clinician for the acupuncture program at NUHS.

Western medicine moved into Japan much earlier than it did in
other Asian countries through Dutch influence in the 1600s. Because
of this, Japan has always had more of an interest in western
medicine than oriental medicine. Japan even prohibited oriental
medicine under Emperor Meiji in the late 1800s. Later on,
acupuncture was finally allowed once again, but only as an
occupation for the blind.

"This is why their style developed diagnostic methods that
relied on palpation rather than sight - feeling the abdomen, back
and meridian pulses rather than looking at visual characteristics
of the tongue, eyes or fingernails," says Dr. Kim. "This is
also why they use a lot of acupressure as well, as this technique
was very adaptable to blind practitioners."

Korean Acupuncture
Diagnosis in Korean acupuncture is focused on a full
constitutional analysis, an old concept rooted in Chinese medicine.
A constitutional diagnosis requires a completely separate book of
prescriptions. Korean acupuncture also focuses on the extremities
like the hand or ear.

Most of the standard acupuncture layouts in Korea use only four
needles. In fact, Korean acupuncture is often called 'four-needle'
technique, or Sa-am technique for this reason.

"The four needles are split two and two - two needles sedate or
reduce excess Qi in one organ system, while two other needles
tonify or increase Qi in a second organ system," explains Dr. Kwon.
"This balancing concept is the foundation behind four-needle
acupuncture."

"Even though China and Korea border each other, their scholars
did not always communicate. That's why their acupuncture and
oriental medical practices differ slightly. Also, some herbs used
in Chinese medicine cannot grow in Korea's climate. Many of the
Korean herbal medicine formulas will thus add or substitute herbs
that have similar effects but are more common in the Korean
climate."

National's Approach
"Here at NUHS, our foundation is rooted in traditional Chinese
medicine (TCM), as all major styles are. While we provide a
strong basis in TCM, we also give our students a taste of these
other styles so that later, if they choose, they can go deeper on
their own according to their interests," says Dr. Hyundo Kim. "We
also offer in-depth post-graduate courses
in more focused styles of acupuncture, such as Korean hand
acupuncture technique."